The western bean Cutworm monitoring program needs the help of bean producers in the province

- Peak moth flight for WBC is expected this week or next week (2-3 weeks earlier this year)

- WBC moth numbers in Ontario traps are much higher than last year

- bean growers need to scout their earliest planted fields starting this week for WBC feeding damage on the pods. If they find significant damage, they need to spray the field with Matador asap.

Please refer to the links in Tracey Baute’s “Bugblog” below for specific information.

- all bean growers are encouraged to email or call 519-784-7110.

“We need fields to do small plot research on insecticide efficacy.”

 http://bautebugblog.com/wbc-management-in-dry-beans

 http://bautebugblog.com/wbc-infosheets-and-maps

A quick and early jump on the season continues to be the norm for the 2010 planting season.  As of the first week of June good progress in seeding this year’s edible bean crop is being reported.

Reports from the Red River Valley show between two thirds (2/3) and three quarters of the intended acres are in the ground.  Similarly in Manitoba seeding completion approached 70%.  In Ontario growers had picked up nearly 65% of their seed bookings.  And in Michigan the USDA NASS field office showed the following

             Crop progress for week ending 05/30/10

  ————————————————————–

                              :  This  :  Last  :  Last  : 5-year

            Crop            :  week  :  week  :  year  :average

  ————————————————————–

                            :              Percent

Corn, planted                 :   93       85       89       94

Corn, emerged               :   80       63       55       69

Dry beans, planted       :   23        2        5        7

Oats, emerged                :  100       95       78       92

Oats, headed                  :    5         0          1        5

Soybeans, planted          :   73       50       59       77

Soybeans, emerged         :   45       22       23       38

Winter wheat, headed     :   65        8       22       33

    ———————————–

By all reports those crops and fields planted, are at, or well ahead of schedule.

The only fly in the ointment has been the weather which in these past critical days for dry beans has turned very wet.  Manitoba experienced 4-6 inches of rain, Ontario’s bean growing area also got hit but with spotty and heavy coverage.  Radar weather showed Michigan also receiving heavy showers through the bean growing zone.  The last part of the bean crop will go into the ground at teh tail end of the optimum planting window.

Minnesota had a BIG (profitable) year growing navy beans, says The Land. Some yields exceeding 3,000 lbs/acre. Contract pricing at US$27/cwt., with production costs (including land) of about $350/acre. Net profit went through the roof.
The entire story can be read here.
[Editor's note: This will be Ontario's and other North American production zones competition in the future. ]

June 30 is the last day to submit 2008 AgriStability forms and corporate Statement A forms to Agricorp.

It is also the deadline to report grain and oilseed acres for PI and RMP. Farmers must report acreage immediately upon completion of planting of spring seeded crops or by June 30, 2009, except buckwheat, which is due July 31, 2009.

June 30 is also deadline for reporting acreage for several Production Insurance (PI) plans.

For the “on line” version click here

[Editor’s note: June 30^th is also the deadline for White Pea Bean producers to declare their ‘elections’ as to whether they are growing beans to be marketed directly through a dealer or whether their production will be going through the Pool.]

The chart for drying charges for the 2008/09 Ontario White Pea Bean crop can be found here pick-chart-20081 and drychgs-2008

(includes white beans, black beans, cranberry beans, kidney beans and Japan & other coloured beans)

The 2008 planting season has been fraught with cold and wet weather which has delayed the normal planting of Ontario’s edible bean crop.

In order to accommodate growers who have applied for Production Insurance (PI) coverage, Agricorp will extend the June 20 planting deadline, so that producers in areas with less than 2700 CHU will have until June 30 to get their crop planted, and will still qualify for Production Insurance coverage.

Producers will be expected to:
1. Report their planted acreage no later than June 30
2. Report claims for unseeded acreage benefit no later than June 30 (if they will be unable to complete planting as planned)

For more information please contact:
Lindsay Barfoot, Account Lead Grains & Oilseeds — Agricorp — 519-837-6392 directly.

Edible Beans

Early reported edible bean yields have varied widely from 15 – 22 cwt/acre with good quality. The majority of the crop will be ready for harvest September 6th – 20th. Many fields will require a preharvest herbicide application for desiccation of weeds and beans foliage to better manage harvest. White mould and blight in some fields is reducing yield and increasing dockage and pick.

Watch harvest timing carefully to ensure that beans do not become overly dry while you are waiting for the plants to dry down. Mechanical damage and harvest losses can increase quickly when edible beans are harvested below 16% moisture. At low harvest moistures, it can become difficult to adjust combining and handling sufficiently to keep seed damage within acceptable levels.

During harvest, beans can be monitored for mechanical damage by using a seed soak test. This test can also be used for soybeans intended for seed or an identity preserved market. To do a soak test, make a dilute solution of household bleach using one part bleach to 5 parts water. Soak a sample of bean seed in the solution for 5-10 minutes. Blot the seeds dry on paper towel and count the number of damaged seeds which will appear either swollen or have wrinkled seed coats because seeds with damaged seed coats will take up moisture quickly.

Run combine cylinder speeds only fast enough to thresh the crop. Match travel speed to run as much material as possible through the cylinder to minimize seed damage. Unloading augers should be run slow and full. Keep knives sharp to minimize shatter losses. Up to 90% of harvest losses occur at the header. Late in the day as pods dry, header losses can reach more than 20% with a standard pick-up reel, while losses with an air reel may be less than 10%. Seed loss of 5 per square feet is equivalent to a loss of approximately 1 Bu/ac of white beans. If the crop is short and volume reduced, an air reel can significantly improve crop intake into the combine and reduce losses at the knife.